JP4531025B2 - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and printing method including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a management server.

  Recently, multiple users can use printing devices connected to the network to reduce the installation cost of the printing devices, and use multiple printing devices to reduce printing time through distributed printing and simultaneous printing. Work to improve the efficiency of office work. On the other hand, the use of color printers has been increased, and its use has been expanded. On the other hand, the number of prints and copies used has increased, and the printing cost has increased. For this reason, for example, in Patent Document 1, a management server that manages both printing and copying is connected to a network, printing restriction information and the like are collectively managed, and printing permission / inhibition is instructed. Restrictions are being made.

Further, in Patent Document 2, the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is set for each user, and it is necessary to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints from the situation of the permitted number of prints and the number of printed sheets set by the user. And a setting change inquiry unit that predicts whether or not to allow the administrator to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints. A printing system is disclosed that enables a printing process based on the changed printing restriction when the administrator has given permission to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints.
JP 2002-215373 A JP 2005-349704 A

  When the upper limit for the number of prints allowed is set for each user or for each group of multiple users, the number of prints that exceeds the upper limit for the number of prints allowed due to a sudden event or response to a customer. May require. Normally, in such a case, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user requests the administrator who manages the setting of the permitted number of prints to change the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints. In many cases, the manager is absent, so it cannot be handled immediately. In such a case, in order to avoid interruption or stagnation of the printing process, it is necessary to take measures within a range subject to printing restrictions.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. When there is a request for the number of prints exceeding the upper limit value of the number of prints allowed, the print job to be preferentially executed is automatically determined and printed. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and a printing method for performing the above.

A printing system or method according to the present invention is a printing system or method that includes a user terminal, a printing apparatus, and a print management server connected to a network, and an upper limit value for the number of prints allowed for each user. Calculates the number of printable sheets based on the remaining number of prints allowed by the user who requested the print job and the total number of prints required for a plurality of unexecuted print job requests reserved by the same user as the user. A print number determination means for performing, and a print job determination means for automatically determining a print job to be given priority among the plurality of unexecuted print job requests within the range of the printable number when the printable number is insufficient, And a print job confirmation unit for confirming a result determined by the print job determination unit with a user within a predetermined time .

For example, in the case of a plurality of unexecuted print jobs, for example, a color print job and a monochrome print job, priority is given to a color print job, and for a high speed print job and a normal speed print job, a high speed print job is selected. In the case of a high-quality print job and a normal-quality print job, priority is given to the print job with the higher function, such as giving priority to the high-quality print job .

  According to the present invention, when a print request exceeding the upper limit value is issued by a plurality of print jobs when the upper limit value of print permission sheets is set, priority is given to the print job that seems to be automatically high function. And execute printing. As a result, a temporary print job can be processed, and a stagnation of the printing process can be avoided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the printing system of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a printing system, 2 is a user terminal, 3 is an administrator terminal, 4 is a printing apparatus, 5 is a print management server, and 6 is a communication network.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 according to the present invention includes, for example, a plurality of user terminals 2, an administrator terminal 3, a plurality of printing apparatuses 4, and a print management server 5 via a communication network 6. Connected to be communicable.

The user terminal 2 is a terminal operated by a user, and data relating to printing such as input of image data, color printing and monochrome printing, setting of printing paper, number of prints, necessity of management image addition, and the like are created. The The header information of the print data is notified to the print management server 5 via the printing apparatus 4 that has requested the print processing of the print job, or directly to the print management server 5. One user terminal may be used by a plurality of users.
The administrator terminal 3 is a terminal similar to the user terminal 2, but is a terminal operated by a person who manages the printing process, such as assigning an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints to each user via the terminal for printing. Are shown separately from other user terminals. Note that only one administrator terminal 3 is required, but a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of units have different management contents and work is distributed.

As the printing apparatus 4, a plurality of image forming apparatuses of various forms such as a digital multi-function peripheral and a printer are used. In addition, a printing apparatus having specific functions such as color printing, monochrome printing, high image quality, and high-speed printing can also be used. Furthermore, one printing apparatus may be provided with a plurality of the specific functions, and these functions can be selected and used.
In the printing system according to the present invention, the print management server 5 manages the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints for each user or group, determines whether print processing is possible, and manages the number of prints. In addition, the printing status of each printing apparatus may be monitored, and the management operation may be performed so that each user can execute a print job with an appropriate printing schedule.

  The user terminal 2, the administrator terminal 3, the printing device 4, and the print management server 5 can communicate with each other via the communication network 6. For example, the upper limit of the permitted number of prints and the permitted number of copies for each user (hereinafter collectively referred to as the permitted number of prints) is notified from the administrator terminal 3 to the respective users through the user terminal 2. At the same time, the print permission number is also notified to the print management server 5, and the print permission number is set in the print management table. Note that the permitted number of prints may be set as an amount in a budget or the like by converting the number of sheets into an amount.

The upper limit value of the permitted number of prints can be set in individual units, business group units, workplace units, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as users). In addition, the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints means the number of printable sheets in a predetermined period. For example, it is set in units of one year or six months, monthly units, weekly units, or daily units according to budgeting. Can do.
The administrator in the administrator terminal 3 is a person who has the authority to set the upper limit value of the permitted number of prints or to approve the change of the setting for the user. For example, a person who is in a managerial position in a company organization or a manager who is entrusted with management of office supplies or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the print management server. In the figure, 10 is a control unit, 11 is a print job receiving unit, 12 is a print number management unit, 13 is a print number calculation unit, 14 is a print job determination unit, Reference numeral 15 denotes a print job instruction unit, and 16 denotes a print job confirmation unit.
As shown in the figure, the schematic configuration of the print management server 5 includes a print job receiving unit 11 that accepts an inquiry about execution of a print job from each printing device 4, and the number of prints that can be managed and the number of prints that can be managed for each user. The management unit 12, a print number calculation unit 13 that calculates the printable number of sheets for the user's print job, a print job determination unit 14 that determines whether the requested print job can be executed, and a print execution instruction to the printing apparatus A print job instruction unit 15 for sending out, a print job confirmation unit 16 for confirming the priority order of the print jobs, and a control unit 10 for performing these controls are provided.

  The control unit 10 has a CPU and includes a program for controlling communication with an external terminal or a printing apparatus, and controls overall management functions related to printing. The print job receiving unit 11 receives a large number of print jobs including print reservations from a plurality of user terminals connected to the communication network 6 via the printing apparatus 4, and executes, waits, etc. for the print job in the job management table. Managed. Since the header information attached to the print job includes color / monochrome, print paper size, number of printed sheets, and the like, whether or not the print job is possible and the number of printable sheets are determined.

The number-of-prints management unit 12 manages the number of prints obtained by calculating the upper limit value of the number of prints allowed for each user transmitted from the administrator terminal 3, the number of used prints, and the remaining printable number from the difference between the numbers. A table is stored.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the print number management table. In each user (or group), an e-mail address for sending various notifications to the user, the upper limit value of the print permission number set initially, The number of print processed sheets, the remaining number of printable items in the future, and the like are managed. This print count management table stores and accumulates the used print count for each user acquired through a print job, so that the remaining printable count for each user is sequentially updated and managed with the latest information.

  The print number calculation unit 13 is a means for calculating whether or not the requested print job of the user is within the range of the permitted number of prints, that is, the number of printable sheets. This printable sheet count is calculated by referring to the remaining number obtained by subtracting the number of already used sheets from the upper limit value of the permitted number of sheets to be printed in the print sheet number management table managed by the print sheet number management unit 12. It is calculated by calculating the difference from the number of printed sheets. If the same user reserves (or is waiting for) multiple print jobs, is it possible to calculate the total number of prints required for multiple print jobs and print all the print jobs? It is determined whether or not.

  When the print job requested by the user exceeds the remaining printable number, the print job determination unit 14 determines that printing is not possible. In addition, when multiple print jobs are reserved by the same user and the total number of prints exceeds the remaining printable number, the printable remaining number of any print job among the multiple print jobs If one print job is selected, it is determined which print job is selected. When selecting a priority print job, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of printing apparatuses (a), (b), (c)... Are selected from color printing, monochrome printing, printing speed, image quality, and the like. Priorities are set between the printing apparatuses.

  As a priority criterion, for example, in a comparison between a color print job and a monochrome print job, a color print job is selected because color printing is more important than a monochrome print job and has a higher priority. To. In the case of the same color print jobs or monochrome print jobs, the print device with the higher print speed is selected as the print device with the higher print speed is set as the higher priority. Like that. Further, when the image quality (resolution, etc.) differs between printing apparatuses, a high-quality printing apparatus or a print job in which a high-quality print mode is set is selected. This selection can be set to be automatically selected.

Based on the determination result of the print job determination unit 14, the print job instruction unit 15 instructs each printing apparatus to execute the print process or to disable the print process.
The print job confirmation unit 16 is a means for confirming whether or not the print job selected by the user can be executed when the priority print job is determined and selected as described above. This confirmation can be performed, for example, by automatic transmission using the mail address in the management table of FIG. If there is an OK response within a predetermined time from the user, the corresponding printing apparatus is instructed to execute the printing process for the print job selected in the determination. If there is no answer within a predetermined time, the corresponding printing apparatus is instructed to execute the printing process for the print job selected in the same manner.

  On the other hand, the user may answer NO to the print job determination result. This is because, for example, color printing and monochrome printing have a large difference in printing costs, and therefore monochrome printing may be desired due to budgetary reasons. In such a case, regardless of the determination by the print job determination unit 14, a different print job is selected and the corresponding printing apparatus is instructed. Also, by confirming this print job, it is also possible to cancel all reserved print jobs and reissue a new job that satisfies the printable number of sheets. Even in such a case, if there is no response within a predetermined time, the corresponding printing apparatus is instructed and executed for the printing process for the print job selected in the determination.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printing apparatus 4 described above. For example, an image forming apparatus (eg, a digital multifunction peripheral) having a plurality of functions as a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a scanner apparatus, and the like. It is a figure explaining the example applied to ().
A digital multi-function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as multi-function peripheral) 20 shown as an example of an image forming apparatus is connected to a user terminal 2 or another printing apparatus 4 via a communication network 6 such as an in-house LAN by a communication unit 21 and mutually connected. Information exchange is possible. Further, it is also connected to a wide area communication network such as the Internet, and information is transmitted / received to / from an external FAX of an external device or an external PC. Further, the FAX modem 22 can communicate with other facsimile apparatuses through a telephone line network.

  The multi-function device 20 includes a CPU that performs arithmetic processing and a RAM that temporarily stores processing information, controls the overall device, and includes a device control unit 23 that is loaded with programs that execute various functions. Yes. The device control unit 23 is connected to a management unit 24 that stores management control information (various control information) for managing processing performed by the multifunction machine 20, and reads an image or the like recorded on a recording sheet to generate an image. An image reading unit 25 that generates data is connected. The image reading unit 25 includes a scanner (CCD or the like) for capturing image data of a document and a document detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the document. Further, a hard disk device (HD) 26 is connected to the device control unit 23, and the HD 26 can store and hold data related to image processing such as image data generated by the image reading unit 25.

  The device control unit 23 is connected to an operation unit 27 that is input by a user. The operation unit 27 has an input unit such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad for inputting information such as a control command, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying information for operation. In the operation unit 27, an authentication code or the like for authenticating the administrator or user of the multifunction device 20 is also input. Note that the authentication code may be input from the outside via the FAX modem 22 or the communication unit 21.

  The image forming unit 28 temporarily stores the read image data in the memory 29, and the image processing unit 30 reads the image data stored in the memory 29 to detect or add a shading correction or a specific image. To do. Further, the image forming unit 28 includes a printing unit 31 that forms an image and prints it on a recording sheet. As a result, the multifunction device 20 functions as a copier that stores the image data generated by the image reading unit 25 in the memory 29 and then forms an image by the printing unit 31. Further, the image data formed by the image forming unit 28 can be transmitted to the outside, or the image forming unit 28 can form an image by receiving image data from the outside, and also functions as a printing apparatus.

  4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the flow of the printing system according to the present invention. The outline of the operation of this system will be described with reference to this flowchart. First, in the flow on the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) side in FIG. 4A, for example, in step S10, the printing apparatus (a) sends a print job (hereinafter simply referred to as a job) from the user C via the user terminal (C). It is assumed that it has been received (S10 Yes). In step S11, the printing apparatus (a) analyzes the contents of the received job (user ID, color / monochrome, printing paper, number of printed sheets, etc.), and in step S12, a printing management server (hereinafter simply referred to as a management server). Inquiries as to whether or not the job can be executed including the confirmation of the user ID (to step S20 in FIG. 4B).

  In step S13, the system waits for an answer from the management server and maintains the standby state. Next, when there is an answer from the management server, if it is determined in step S14 that the printing process cannot be executed with the job content from the user (No in S14) (step S22 in FIG. 4B), the process proceeds to step S15 and the job is canceled. And exit. Note that the fact that the job is not permitted is notified to the user from the management server side in the flow of the management server described later. When the execution of the printing process is permitted (S14 Yes) (from step S32 or S33 in FIG. 4B), the process proceeds to step S16, and the job printing process is executed. When the job printing process is completed in the next step S17, the process proceeds to step S18 to notify the management server of the end of the job, and the flow ends.

  Next, the flow on the management server side in FIG. 4B will be described. If there is an inquiry about the user ID or the like to the management server in step S12 on the printing apparatus side (S20 Yes), it is first determined whether or not the user is registered in the next step S21. If the user C who has requested printing is not registered as a user in the user management table of the management server (No in S21), it is determined in step S22 that the printing process of the job cannot be performed in a standby state or a printing apparatus that is executing another job. Is notified (to step S13 in FIG. 4A). At the same time, the user C is notified via the user terminal (C).

  If the user registration is confirmed in step S21 (S21 Yes), the process proceeds to step S23, and the job is reserved in the management server. In the management server, for example, a print job management table as shown in FIG. 7 is provided for each user, and the currently executing job and the waiting job are sequentially arranged in the same user unit. Examples of management items in the print job management table include the device name of the printing apparatus to be printed, the number of printed sheets, whether color or monochrome, image quality, and the like. FIG. 7A shows that the user C currently requests three jobs, and the first job 1 has already been permitted printing processing and is being executed.

  In the next step S24, it is determined whether or not there is a job that is already in progress. If there is a job that is being executed (Yes in S24), the process proceeds to the next step S25 to notify the end of the job that is being executed. It is determined whether or not it has been received. While the job 1 being executed is not completed (No in S25), the process returns to Step S24 and repeats the process from Step S25. The end of job 1 being executed is confirmed by receiving a job end notification (from S18 in FIG. 4A) from the printing apparatus side.

  Here, if the end notification of the job 1 is received from the printing apparatus side (S25 Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S26. If no job is being executed in step S24 (No in S24), the process similarly proceeds to step S26. After the job being executed is completed, it is determined in step S26 whether there is a reserved job. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, when there are waiting jobs 2 and 3 (S26 Yes), the process proceeds to step S27, and when there is no waiting job (S26 No), the flow ends.

  Here, regarding the management of the number of prints, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the upper limit value of the number of prints allowed is set by the print number management table in units of users (or groups), and the number of prints already processed up to now is sequentially determined. Managed in an updated state. From this print number management table, the remaining printable number within the range of the permitted number of prints is calculated. Here, for example, paying attention to user C, the number of prints allowed is 1500, and since 1300 have already been printed, the remaining number of printable sheets (printable remaining number) is 200. It has become.

  Returning to the flow of FIG. 4B, in step S27, the number of prints reserved by the same user before the next job is executed is the predetermined remaining printable number (remaining printable number). It is checked whether the value has been reached. If there is only one reserved job, it is determined whether the printable remaining number is within the range of that one job. If there are a plurality of reserved jobs, the total number of prints of the plurality of reserved jobs is determined. To be judged. If the total number of prints of the reserved jobs is within the range of the remaining printable number (No in S27), the process proceeds to the next step S28, and the print processes of the next jobs 2 and 3 are executed in the order received in the normal process. Therefore, it progresses to step S30.

  If the total number of prints of the reserved job exceeds the printable remaining number range (S27 Yes), the process proceeds to step S29. In step S27, for example, in the case of the user C, as shown in FIG. 7A, job 2 is monochrome with the printing apparatus (b), printing 200 sheets at 300 dpi, and job 3 is printed. Assume that the apparatus (a) requests printing of 200 colors at 600 dpi. The total number of prints of job 2 and job 3 is 400. According to the print number management table of FIG. 5, the remaining printable number for user C is 200, and 200 is over. That is, either one of the jobs is within the range of the remaining printable number, but both jobs cannot be printed.

  Here, in step S29, it is determined which of the waiting job 2 and job 3 reserved in the print job management table of FIG. As described with reference to FIG. 2, this determination is performed by the print job determination unit 14 serving as a print job determination unit. In determining the priority job, for example, a priority determination criterion as shown in FIG. 6 can be used.

  In step S29, based on the above determination criteria, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is determined that the waiting jobs 2 and 3 are switched and printing processing is performed with priority on printing of 200 color prints. And select it. Next, in step S30, it is determined whether or not to execute the job determined to be preferentially printed. As an example of this determination, a user is notified by e-mail or the like via a communication network, “The requested job exceeds the permitted number of prints. Therefore, the priority print processing job is 200 color prints and 200 monochrome prints. Automatically send a message saying "Is this OK?"

  In response to this, if the user gives an OK response, step S30 (Yes), and in step S32, the printing apparatus (a) waiting for printing is notified of printing permission. Upon receiving this notification (step S13), the printing apparatus (a) executes the printing process according to the flow after step S14.

  On the other hand, the user may answer NO to the above determination result. This is because the cost is greatly different between color printing and monochrome printing, and for the sake of budget, the selection of printing with 200 monochrome prints of job 2 is selected rather than color printing of job 3 selected in the determination in step S29. May answer. In this case, as step S30 (No), there is a job that can be executed in the reserved job in step S31 (monochrome printing of job 2), and in step S31 (Yes), waiting for printing in the next step S33. Print permission is notified to the printing apparatus (b).

Upon receiving this notification (step S13), the printing apparatus (b) executes the printing process according to the flow from step S14. Also, when the user is notified of the determination result, any job may be canceled and a new job may be reissued to satisfy the printable number of sheets. In such a case, the flow can be terminated as step S31 (No).
In the determination in step S30, the user may have left his / her seat or may not be able to reply to the notification from the management server due to other business. In response to this, if there is no response within a predetermined time, the printing apparatus is instructed to execute the printing process automatically in the order of the jobs automatically determined according to the priority determination criteria. Like that.

  In addition, steps S30 and S31 are not necessarily required steps and can be omitted. That is, after job 1 ends in the state of FIG. 7A, it is impossible to execute both jobs 2 and 3 from the remaining printable number of the same user C in step S27, and FIG. ), The order of jobs 2 and 3 is changed and the print processing of job 3 is automatically selected. Thereafter, the process immediately proceeds to step S32 to notify the printing apparatus (a) that printing is permitted, and then, in step S34, the print number management table in FIG. 5 and the print job management table in FIG. Exit.

It is a figure explaining the outline of the printing system of the present invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing management server in this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) used by this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of a flow by the side of the printing apparatus of the printing system by this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of a flow by the side of the management server of the printing system by this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the printing number management table used by this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a criterion for determining a priority order of print jobs used in the present invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job management table used in the present invention. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... User terminal, 3 ... Manager terminal, 4 ... Printing apparatus, 5 ... Print management server, 6 ... Communication network, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Print job receiving part, 12 ... Print number management part , 13... Print number calculation unit, 14... Print job determination unit, 15... Print job instruction unit, and 16.

Claims (5)

A printing system including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a print management server, wherein an upper limit value of the permitted number of prints is set for each user,
The print management server can perform printing based on the remaining number of prints allowed by the user who requested the print job and the total number of required prints in a plurality of unexecuted print job requests reserved from the same user as the user. A print number calculating means for calculating the number of prints, and a print job for automatically determining a priority print job among the plurality of unexecuted print job requests within the range of the printable number when the printable number is insufficient A printing system comprising: a determination unit; and a print job confirmation unit that confirms a result determined by the print job determination unit with a user within a predetermined time .   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of print jobs are a color print job and a monochrome print job, a determination is made to give priority to the color print job.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of print jobs are a high-speed print job and a normal-speed print job, a determination is made to prioritize the high-speed print job.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of print jobs are a high-quality print job and a normal-quality print job, a determination is made to prioritize the high-quality print job. A printing method including a user terminal connected to a network, a printing apparatus, and a print management server, wherein an upper limit value of the number of allowed prints is set for each user,
The number of printable sheets based on the remaining number of print permission sheets of the user who requested the print job by the print number calculation means and the total number of required prints in a plurality of unexecuted print job requests reserved by the same user as the user To calculate
When the number of printable sheets is insufficient, a print job determination unit automatically determines a print job to be given priority among the plurality of unexecuted print job requests within the range of the number of printable sheets, and a print job confirmation unit A printing method characterized by confirming a result of determination by the print job determination means with a user within a predetermined time and executing printing.

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